WGBH Educational Foundation
Project Title
For one-time funding of PBS NOVA's Space Wars documentary
Date
Sep. 11, 2025
Duration
22 months
Description
The accelerating militarization of outer space has ushered in a new era of strategic competition with significant security implications, including heightened nuclear dangers. As space becomes a central warfighting domain, commercial actors are also playing an increasingly influential role in shaping the space environment and its vulnerabilities. Yet public understanding of these developments remains limited. To address this gap, NOVA will producea newdocumentary exploring the rapidly developing outer space security environment.The film willexamine thetechnologicaland policy dimensions of space militarization, including the potential deployment anduse of nuclear weapons in orbit. The project aims to deepen public understanding of developments in outer space andhow these trends could escalate crises and increase nuclear and global securitydangers.
Website
Project Title
As a one-time only grant for an educational game on topics related to nuclear security issues
Date
Sep. 11, 2025
Duration
24 months
Description
The salience of nuclear weapons is higher today than at any point since the end of the Cold War. Yet public awareness about nuclear dangers, especially among younger generations who grew up after the end of the Cold War, remains low. With a rapidly shifting geopolitical climate and renewed concerns about nuclear proliferation, it is essential to educate today’s high school students—tomorrow’s voters and leaders—about the history, policies, and consequences of nuclear weapons. Building upon the success of its educational resources on nuclear weapons and security policy, GBH Education, the parent organization of NOVA, will research and develop a youth-friendly, game-based interactive experience that aligns with key learning objectives related to nuclear security. The goal of the game will be to deepen the next generation’s understanding of nuclear policy and global nuclear arsenals, while inspiring students to tackle efforts to strengthen international nonproliferation and arms control. The game will also enhance student critical thinking, decision-making, and information literacy skills.
Website
Project Title
For project support of the Democracy and Media Summit to inspire the development of new content that will bridge political divides to strengthen democracy
Date
Sep. 12, 2024
Duration
12 months
Description
Increased polarization within the United States presents challenges to our democracy and it is crucial that we continue to support efforts that help bridge this divide and inform all communities with reliable sources. While mis and disinformation has been a major source for the growing polarization, studies show that public media consistently remains one of the most highly trusted sources of news and information. WGBH, an award-winning public media station and PBS’s single largest producer of television and web content, has a mission to inform audiences about profound social topics through programming and services that educate, inspire and entertain. With support from the Corporation, WGBH will host a one-day Democracy and Media Summit in February 2025 that will bring public media and other leading non-profit media content creators together with experts on democracy, civil society, civic engagement, and communicating across differences from across the political spectrum. The Summit aims to inspire the development of new content that will bridge political divides to strengthen democracy, especially among younger audiences, but also to establish relationships within the public media ecosystem among producers concerned with fostering common ground, and to begin to identify a cohort of experts who can readily advise such endeavors.
Website
Project Title
As a one-time only grant for a project on educational materials related to nuclear security issues
Date
Sep. 14, 2023
Duration
24 months
Description
Although nuclear weapons are increasingly prominent in the news, there are few educational resources to encourage and help students engage with nuclear security issues. GBH, one of the most well-known public television content providers will create educational materials for students in grades 6-12, including video resources, interactive lessons, and materials to support both teachers and students.The goal is to help students interpret nuclear policy through the lens of the history of nuclear weapons, disarmament, and nonproliferation efforts. Students will also develop the knowledge base and argumentation skills to effectively engage in informed civic discourse and to feel empowered to take action on nuclear policy, whatever their position may be.The project includes a student engagement initiative through which students can demonstrate their understanding of the issues and, in the process, encourage interest in these educational materials.
Website
Project Title
For support of research and project planning on family engagement and district efforts to develop media resources
Date
Mar. 08, 2018
Duration
9 months
Description
Although schools across the country are working to strengthen relationships between educators and parents, family engagement in the middle grades requires enhancement that aligns with the specific needs of adolescents. As a flagship PBS member station with a track record of creating engaging educational materials for families, educators, and students, WGBH Educational Foundation seeks to research and evaluate family engagement strategies in the middle grades, the challenges that educators and families are grappling with, as well as the impact of media-based resources in addressing those challenges. With support from the Corporation, WGBH will evaluate the efficacy of family engagement strategies in two traditionally underserved districts – Lawrence, MA and Cleveland, OH. Through interviews, surveys, and analysis that leads to recommendations, as well as a catalogue of media-based resources proven to support family engagement, WGBH will offer strategies that can be replicated by other underserved districts.
Website
Project Title
For support of "Working," a documentary film series and multi-media engagement campaign
Date
Dec. 06, 2018
Duration
39 months
Description
The nature of work is changing in rapid and profound ways. For the first time in generations, children live less well economically than their parents, and by 2020 as many as thirty percent of U.S. workers will freelance without the benefits of full-time employment. It is imperative to inform the public about the causes and characteristics of these changes and to support young people with resources and tools that will assist them as they enter the workforce. WGBH, an award-winning public media station and PBS’s single largest producer of television and web content, has a mission to inform audiences about profound social changes through programming and services that inspire and entertain. With support from the Corporation, WGBH will produce a three-hour national, prime-time, broadcast series and engagement campaign titled “Working.” The series will inform and equip young people to be successful in the changing dynamics of the global economy and highlight ways that students and families can meet the challenges of the work of the future.
Website
Project Title
For an event to be hosted by WGBH Educational Foundation to educate public media professionals and stakeholders about the role of parents and communities in their children's education
Date
Mar. 02, 2017
Duration
12 months
Description
There are numerous and varied challenges around effectively engaging parents, families, and communities in education including lack of information on how parents and families can support their children’s learning, lack of parent and family information on school quality, and lack of integration of specific community needs into local education agendas. Research suggests that during the middle school years, in particular, these challenges take distinct forms as they come at a time when students are at moments in their academic, physical, and social emotional development that require special attention and support, yet this same critical developmental stage coincides with a well-documented decline in parent involvement in education. As the leading producer of multimedia content for public television, WGBH proposes to host a daylong Education Summit in September 2017 with Corporation support on issues surrounding parent, family, and community engagement at the middle school level. The goal of the Summit will be to present compelling, thought-provoking information, models, and impactful stories related to adult stakeholder engagement in the middle school years. The Summit’s target audience will include media producers, journalists, and education outreach professionals from WGBH, a selection of geographically diverse PBS member stations, and other independent media professionals, as well as representatives from the philanthropic community.
Website
Project Title
For the NOVA Science Studio
Date
Dec. 07, 2017
Duration
28 months
Description
While the need for science-based skills and professions in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) field continue to increase, attracting a diverse workforce remains a major challenge. Research shows that low-income students of color show a stronger disinterest in science than their peers, largely because they rarely perceive scientists from diverse backgrounds on the media and lack opportunities in their curriculum for genuine engagement. WGBH’s NOVA Science Studio will launch a pilot program connecting Boston-area students with science writers and communicators in order to inspire students to engage in the sciences and support a broader set of career aspirations. NOVA is the most-watched science series on prime-time television, with an average of four million weekly viewers, and is well-positioned to execute the pilot. With the Corporation’s support, NOVA will (1) design its curriculum focusing on science journalism and video production and (2) implement the pilot through biweekly courses on topics such as Big Data and Artificial Intelligence.
Website
Project Title
For dissemination support for the film, "Command and Control"
Date
Sep. 08, 2016
Duration
7 months
Description
This grant supports a theatrical dissemination campaign for the American Experience film Command and Control, based on the Eric Schlosser book of the same title. The film, a gripping account of an accident at a nuclear missile silo in rural Arkansas, powerfully illustrates the challenge posed by technological complexity and human fallibility. Corporation funding will allow an expanded theatrical release in major markets as well as screenings for influencers in target cities. The film provides an opportunity to engage new audiences in a visceral way about the nature of nuclear risk.
Website
Project Title
For research and production of a documentary about the science of learning and schools of the future.
Date
Jun. 04, 2015
Duration
41 months
Website
Project Title
Toward a fellowship program to train and mentor young journalists
Date
Jun. 08, 2006
Duration
7 months